In collaboration with Mingara Recreation Club, the Mariners will today trade their traditional yellow playing strips for pink kits in the name of women-s cancer research, prevention and support.

Hill-s sister, Fiona, tragically died of breast cancer three years ago. She was only 46.

Having lost Fiona at such a young age, Hill unfortunately understands the suffering and heartache women-s cancer causes not only the victim, but their families too.

“I-ve got a personal experience with breast cancer so I am right behind Pink Ribbon Day,” Hill said. “I know that it-s an horrific disease, and also very taxing on the family.”

With the Pink Ribbon Day cause close to his heart, Hill said sport offers a strong medium to increase awareness and raise funds for a multitude of worthy causes.

And with Hyundai A-League Clubs now making their biggest ever impression on the national and international sporting landscape, there has never been a better time to leverage the profile of the competition in the name of charity.

“A-League Clubs, the same as all sporting organisations, have a prescence in the community and through their public profile they can gain people-s attention through the media,” he said.

“I think it-s a very worthwhile exercise and I applaud the Mariners for taking the lead on this, particularly with the pink kits because that gets the message across loud and clear and very visually that this battle is ongoing.

“The more that the Clubs can get behind these causes the more the public are hopefully going to dig deep in their pockets and we can research and try and beat this terrible disease,” he said.

Hill will be a guest of the Mariners for their Hyundai A-League round 2 meeting against Perth Glory this afternoon, and predicted an entertaining contest between the purple-whites and the home team.

“Every year nobody thinks that the Mariners are going to do anything special and every year they surprise us,” he said.

“Perth of course has become very strong over the last 12 or 18 months.”

“I think it will be a really competitive game and I like the way that ‘Arnie-s- (Graham Arnold-s) teams play, so I always enjoy going up to Bluetongue Stadium.”

And Hill added that he was waiting with anticipation to see the potential midfield battle between new Central Coast recruit Nick Montgomery, and Perth-s Irish creative Liam Miller.

“Nick Montgomery the new signing from Sheffield United, if he starts perhaps his job will be to keep Liam Miller quiet … the little Irishman who creates so much for Perth Glory.”

“That could be an interesting battle to watch out for and I-m told Nick is a combative type of player. If he can keep Miller quiet maybe that will be good news for the Mariners.”

Following the game Mingara will auction off the signed playing strips to raise further funds for Australia-s Cancer Council. Visit ccmariners.com.au in coming days for more details.

Fans attending today-s game as also encouraged to wear pink to the clash. Supporters who wear pink will be given a FREE three-visit pass to Mingara One Gym, Tumbi Umbi.